The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-12-14

Saltwater, Minn, Wednesday, Dec. II, 1857.
all Gods commandments? l am afraid it

q
is not the reason. if it were we would think
about it before the time l have mentioned.
To my own understanding abOutthe eleventh
hour conversion is this, that Christ, our
blessed Redeemer, spoke to us in this man.
ner. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand; and you shall be saved even
at the eleventh hour" Does he mean by
that to wait until we are dying? No, my
friends; but he means to-day is the eleventh
hour. SO repent while there is time.
Remember we may wait too long, then
afterward be sorry for the delay. How do
you know how many years you will live in
this world? None can tell. | know a
great many rich people who never find
time to 90 to church, but we see them
going to dinner parties and dancing clubs;
| also to the opera. but when Sunday comes,
| then they lie in bed all the forenoon so as
to be able to enter again into dissipation
| the next night. But when they are taken
sick they Immediately send for priest. or
a minister. to pray for them; and the first
words they say are these: Dear father. l
have led very wicked life, but l confess
my sins; do you think. dear father. that
God will hear my petition?" And what
is the answer to this great question, dear
reader? You know as we'll as l. and it is
ives" Again. l will say don't believe in
such conversion. If such is right. then
what is the use Of having so many preach
ers: to pay so much money for missionary
purposes and to have Sundays, and live a
sober and christian life? Surely we may
follow the command, Let us eat, drink
and be merry: tomorrow we die" But
any one endowed with common sense, and
with the intelligence that God has given
us, from the beginning-even from our
birth-knOws such doctrine is false. So,
dear reader, let us begin to-day to live a
model and upright life. Some of the boys
| in this place, whenever they write any
thing for our little paper, always address
themselves to us prisoners only; but l call
upon all. inside and outside these walls
that are surrounding us to day. And why?
Because prisoners are not the only people
that are bad in this world. There are many
young girls and boys Outside-even old
peOple-whO need to be taught the right
way of life. | hope all those who have
put it off day after day will begin to-day,
to labor for the benefit of their souls. Oh.
that l were eloquent. that might be able
to write some good words that would enter
the hearts Of some Of you. IT | thought
by writing these few lines for our little
paper could help some one to lead a bet
ter life. l would be happy to be here.
Brothers, let me appeal to you again-as l
did few months ago-about writing to
mother. Do you write to her? If you do
not, begin next Sunday. You cannotRcom-
prehend what happiness it will give the old
mothers heart. You nee dn' t say that you
are in prison; even if you do, our old and
loving mother will be glad to hear from lis
and that we are alive yet. because she
thinks that she will see her long absent boy
once more in the paternal home.
Now, dear reader. in conclusion. as the
holidays are approaching, allow me to wish
you all a Merry Christmas and q Happy
New Year. FRANK Y. BEAUDIN.
Dec. 8. 1887.